Title: Oh, Brother!
Author(s): Nikki Grimes
Illustrator/Photographer: Mike Benny
Publisher and Year: Greenwillow Books 2007
Number of pages: 32
Genre: Fiction, Family
1) Summary:
Xavier’s mom marries Chris’s stepdad, Xavier does not like Chris because he acts like a perfect child and believes he is out to steal his mother. Chris and Xavier learn to get along and eventually like each other. They even have to add a new member to the family.
2) Theoretical Framework:
On the cover, Chris and Xavier are standing back to back smirking and looking at each other. They are outside with a nice sunny day with a big green leafy tree. This shows that they are keeping an eye on each other or they actually like each other. There is a picture of the family leaving the church from getting married, everyone is happy except Xavier. He is looking at Chris with eyes of envy. Xavier does not seem to be happy about Chris being in the family. The next picture shows Xavier on a pizza in space by himself while the rest of the family is on a different one. This shows that Xavier may feel left out or alone. Also, There’s a picture in which Xavier is shrunken to ant size while there are 2 pairs of feet(male) looking like they are about to stomp. This shows that he may feel there isn’t any space for him which is what the text basically says. Also, there is a picture of Chris getting a book read to him by his father smiling at Xavier. This picture almost looks like it’s meant to mock Xavier. Next, there’s a picture of Chris with a robe on with the back being held up by the mom and dad, he even has a halo over his head. This depicts that Chris is an angel or royalty in the parents’ eyes. Chris is sleeping in bed with a mother like woman that is pale. She is supposed to be in his dream which could be told by the picture. It shows that maybe his mom was never around. After that, Xavier seems to be on the phone looking at a picture of his father. Those pictures were after each other to show the background information about their other parent. Then the boys are depicted to be having a pillow fight. This is to show that they are starting to get along. Then Chris and Xavier is hold their new sister while the mother is looking at them. Everyone is happy and the background is pink. The picture is to show that they were all becoming a happy family while the bright colors show off a happy emotion.
3) Illustrations:
The illustrations matched great with the narrative. I felt that I wouldn’t have understood the pictures if it wasn’t for the text. The pictures really fit the text great.